The Irish standard., 1887-08-27
ST. VINCENT De PAUL.
Rise and Progress of the Great
Charitable Catholic So
ciety.
!; PERFECT GOVERNMENT.

lis PERf fECl GOVtRNMEN u.
Some Particulars About che Organ
ization in the Gar
den City.
st. Vincent de Paul's Society is one
of the noblest and most extensive be-
nevolent torganizationsi in active, though
almost silent, operation throughout
the Christian world. It may be inter
esting if not in measure surprising to
many to learn thatits origin was within
comparatively recent times, and within
the memory, perhaps, of many of it's
yet surviving first members. Before
the first quarter OF the present century
had passed young Frenchman named
Frederic Ozanam who was born in the
south of France in 1918, arrived in
Paris to pursue his studies in the most
famous Of all the universities Of France,
located in the capital and taking it's
own renowned and historical name
from the seat Of the imperial govern
ment. The great Emperor had been
dead but a few years. The vast empire
which, under his splendid and I'll COM
prehensiye administration, had exalted
France to so proud an emineuce among
the nations Of Europe, had already been
wrecked and dissolved, and after the
pacifcation of the continent the terri
tories mastered and seized by Napoleon
were restored to the representatives Of
the several dynasties to whom they
originally belonged. Under the feeble
government OF Louis Philippe, the po-
htical malcontents who still adhered to
the revolutionary principles Of 1883
were again seeking the overthrow of
the Monarchy, and but for Louis Phil
lipe's escape from France it is more
than probable that he would have shared
the fate OF his predecessor, Louis XVI.
1t was TO combat the irreligious and ill.,
fdel in as then beginning again to wear
q political aspect throughout Paris that
young OZanam and some seven OF eight
brother coliegiates first banded together
to refute the dangerous doctrines Of the
Communists who were again nlenacing
the peace and welfare Of F'iAnce.
A hot contest was Wsge} by Ozanam
and his colleagues against the DIS
ciples Of the infidel school, both on the
rostrum and in the press Of Paris.
Taunted by some of his opponents in a
series Of political debates which was in
stituted at the time as to the causes Of
the religious Indifference and infideliiy
avowed by many OF the students of the
secular schools, OZanam called a con-
ference Of his colleagues to consider the
best course to adopt to prove to their
opponents that the virtues inculcated
by Christianity would find as many
constant, self-sacri6cing and deyout
and loyal adherents in aris itself as in
any city claiming TO be governed by
Christian principles throughout the
world. At one of the conferences held
by this devoted little band, only num-
bering eight brother students in all,
Ozanam exclaimed: "It is all very well
talking and arguing and holding ones
own against our adversaries, but why
cannot we decide upon some line OF
practical and Christian wori, showing
the character and strength Of our con-
Yictions?" He thereupon suggested
that the little coterie he had formed
should consecrate their lives to the ser
vice of the poor in Paris and devote
to works Of charity. In 1882
Ozanam, who had long held in serious
the project Of writing a
history Of civilization, found himself
forestalled in this design by Guizo the
renowned historian, one Of bis fellow
collegians, and abandoned his long
cherished project, A well matured
plan of operations was tbereupon con-
5idered and devised for the furtherance
Of the benevolent objects which had
more recently engrossed his thoughts,
and in their successful prosecution he
was very heartily sustained and assisted
by his young colleagues. In the earlier
history of what has now for the last
half century been recognized as the
most benefcient and practical charitable
known throughout the
civilized world, its labors. which were
successful from the start,
we're conducted under the simple title
,f Conferences of Charity. The meri-
;orious work of these conferences in
Paris at length became SO conspicuous
hat the Archbishop not only extended
! warm and generous support to Oza-
nam and his Jealous young followers,
BY whom they were established, but he
also induced the gifted and eloquent
livine, Pere Lacordaire, to deliver a
series of brilliant orations in the Cathe-
1ral Of n Notre Dame in aid of the praise
worthy objects upon which they had so
and opportunely entered.
III II